Post ads on Craigslist

Content

To step
Method 1 of 3: Drafting your ad
Method 2 of 3: Choosing a category
Method 3 of 3: Placing the ad
Tips
Warnings

Craigslist is a centralized network of online communities in the United States, which features advertisements that can be posted by any person, such as job ads, homes, personals, buying and selling ads, and curricula vitae. Craigslist also started in the Netherlands in 2004, but Craigslist only targets (mainly English-speaking) residents of Amsterdam and the surrounding area in the Netherlands, as evidenced by the address Amsterdam.craigslist.org. Almost all services and articles are offered in the Netherlands, but are drawn up in English. Follow the steps in this article if you also want to post to Craigslist.

To step

Method 1 of 3: Drafting your ad

Make up a title. The title is the first thing people see when looking around Craigslist. Make sure you immediately grab attention and come up with an informative title at the same time. If there are not enough details in it, people are less likely to click on the ad.
- If you are selling a product, please describe the condition of the item. So you put the object in the title first, followed by some short descriptions. Use capital letters sparingly. For example, use the following descriptions:
  - LIKE-NEW
  - One owner
  - Mint
  - NEED TO SELL
  - Works GREAT
- If you're an apartment or house on Craigslist, it's a good idea to use words that convey a homey, cozy feeling. Always include basic specifications, such as number of bedrooms and bathrooms and number of square meters (often stated in "square feet").
Add a description. The description is the most important of the ad. The description contains the most information, here potential readers will search for information. Set yourself apart with good English: correct grammar and no spelling mistakes.
- Tell a story. That is a useful tactic for selling something. Never say you want to get rid of something because you don't like it anymore. Instead, state that you want to upgrade or that you have to sell something because of a move.
- Sell your product. Approach the ad as a salesperson would. Tell the reader why he or she needs your product and not all those other products for sale. Add specifications and details to make the ad more professional.
  - Compare your asking price with the replacement value. With this you can easily see what advantage the reader has when they buy your product. That is very useful for more expensive items.
- If you are putting a house or apartment up for rent, give a detailed description of both the inside and the outside. Describe benefits of the district or neighborhood, such as schools, shops, recreation, parks, proximity to highways, etc. Tell about recent renovations. Clearly indicate from when to when the object is for rent and what the asking price is.
- If you offer a job, state clearly how much work the project is or when someone can start work. Explain what someone can expect when hired and describe the skills and qualifications required. The reward is often described as "DOE" (Depending on Experience).
- Sell yourself when you offer services on Craigslist. Clearly state where your strengths lie, what distinguishes you from other providers in the same work area. Think of the ad as a cover letter. Let the reader know that you are the best man or woman for this job.
- If you're posting a personals, get creative! Distinguish yourself by good writing style, short poems, whatever. A standout ad stands out much more than the usual boring personals.
  - If you're looking for a relationship through Craigslist, it's a good idea to sell yourself the same way you sell a product. Describe your strengths and what makes you special. Be assertive, show the reader that you know exactly what you want. Your personality should be reflected in your writing style.
  - Never write personal information in the ad. Make sure that the first contact always goes via an e-mail address that cannot be linked to your name, address or profession.
Add photos. Craigslist offers an "uploader tool" that allows you to easily upload your photos from your computer to your listing. You can add multiple photos, but the first photo is the photo that will appear in the list next to your ad.
- Photos give an added value to your advertisement that should not be underestimated. If a reader is looking for a particular product, he or she will most likely immediately skip ads that don't include photos. Potential buyers always want to see what condition the product is in before responding.
- If you have a car for sale, the first photo should always be a profile photo of the car. Use the other photos for the interior and details.
- If you have a house for rent, always use the first photo for the front of the house. Use the other photos for the rooms and other photos of the outside of the house.
- In the case of a personals ad, you need to decide whether you like the idea of having your photo with the ad. If you do post a photo, make sure it's a good photo that puts you right.
- You are no longer allowed to post working links on Craigslist. You can just put the text of a link (for example to more photos) in an advertisement, so that people can copy this text and place it in the address bar of the browser.
Design your ad. Make sure the ad looks good. You can use HTML code to manipulate the text. You can make text bold or italicized, you can use bullets, etc. Check the Craigslist help page to find out what you can do and how to do it. For example, using bullets makes an ad much clearer and can help keep potential buyers' attention.

Method 2 of 3: Choosing a category

Go to Craigslist. Go to: amsterdam.nl.craigslist.org if you want to place an ad on the Dutch Craigslist.
Click on "post to adv".
Choose a category. There are a number of main categories: community, personal classifieds, services, discussion boards, homes. for sale, resumes, jobs and events. Choose from the following ad types:
- "job offered"
- "performance offered (I am hiring someone for a short, small or unusual job)"
- "resume / job wanted"
- "house offered"
- "wanted house"
- "for sale by the owner"
- "for sale by the dealer"
- wanted by owner
- wanted by dealer
- "service offered"
- "personal / romance"
- "community"
- "event"
Then choose a subcategory. If you have chosen "service offered" you can choose from about 20 subcategories, for example. Choose the subcategory that best fits your ad, that makes the ad easier to find.
- If your ad falls under more categories, choose the one that best matches your product or service.

Method 3 of 3: Placing the ad

Enter the location under "specific location", but do not reveal any personal information.
- Many people use this text box to enter a phone number or website. In that case add http: // www so that you have a working link.
Specify the price. The text box for the price only appears when you are going to sell stuff. Provide a fair price, possibly add OBO (“or best offer”) if you are willing to negotiate.
Please enter an email address. You cannot place an advertisement without an e-mail address. You can also choose "use craigslist mail relay", which means that people will not see your email address, even if they respond to your ad.
- You must always provide a working email address or else you will not be able to receive a confirmation email from Craigslist and publish your ad.
Place the ad. When you have uploaded your photos, you will receive an email from Craigslist. Click on the link in this email to publish your ad.

Tips

Know how to easily go back to the listing to edit it later. Remove the ad from the site if you've sold your product so people don't react unnecessarily to your ad.
If necessary, create a separate email address to use for Craigslist.
Read Craigslist ebooks to learn more about how to post ads on Craigslist.
Watch out for scammers.